Joseph fowlee



JOSEPH FOWLER, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JOHN H. LANDRETH, OF SAME PLACE.

S TEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,662, dated December 2, 1884.

Application filed May 31, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OSEPH FOWLER, of Muskegon, in the county of Muskegon and State of Michigan, have invented an Improvement in Step-Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

This improvement relates to a step-ladder in which the back legs are made so that they can be spread apart, in order that the ladder may have four points of support, or else the back legs can be closed together to form a prop that becomes similar to a single back leg; and I use braces at the upper ends of the legs, that prevent the legs or props tip ping sidewise and allowing the ladder to fall. This construction of ladder is very convenient, because the single leg or prop can often be used in places where there is not sufficient space for the legs or props to be spread apart.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a rear view of the ladder with the back legs spread apart.- Fig. 2 is a similar View with the back legs closed together to form the prop, and Fig. 3 is a side view of the ladder.

The side pieces, B, of the ladder are connected together by the steps or treads c c, and firmly attached to the top step or platform, D. The sides B are nearest together at the top, as usual, and they are spread apart at the lower ends sufficiently to form a firm base to the ladder.

There may be tie-bolts n to connect steps 0 and strengthen the ladder. The back legs, A A, are provided with hooks F at their upper ends, entering into eyesG upon the under side of the platform D, and these legs can be spread apart, as seen in Fig. l, or closed together, as seen in Fig. 2, so as to adapt the ladder to stand ina corner, or in a confined space, or for use in picking fruit. The braces Hare hooked at their upper ends into eyes I upon the metal angle-pieces that connect the side pieces, B, to the platform D, and they pass diagonally to the sides of the legs A, respectively, where they are slotted and connected by the screw 0, passing through the slots into the legs or through holes. The slot in each brace is of such a length, or the holes are at such distances apart, that when the leg is swung outwardly the screw 0 reaches the top of the slot, or is to be placed in the top hole; hence the leg cannot spread outwardly any farther, and when the leg is swung into a vertical position, as seen in Fig. 2, the screw 0 reaches the bottom of the slot, or is to be placed in the bottom hole, and arrests the further movement. The screws 0 are slackened or removed when the legs are being moved apart or pressed together, and are to be screwed up tightly when the parts are in place. The hooks and eyes F G 1 form hinges for the back legs.

In order to connect the two legs together, I make use of the link R, which reaches from one screw, s,to the other, or there may be hookplates beneath the screw-heads interlocking into eyes at the ends of the cross-piece B. This allows a freedom of motion that permits the legs to be swung in or out to take a proper bearing upon the floor or other surface, especially when it is uneven. When the legs are closed together, as in Fig. 2, to form one pr'op at the back of the ladder, I use a short link or plate between the screws 8 s.

This ladder is easily opened or closed, and can be adapted to the particular places in which it is to be used.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, with the ladderB G D, of the legs or props A A, the hinges at the upper ends of the legs for connecting the same to the platform of the ladder, the braces H H, extending from the legs A to the hinges upon the platform or side pieces of the ladder, and

the changeable connecting-link R, to connect the legs together, substantially as specified.

2. The legs A, hinged to the under sideof the platform, in combination with the braces H, also hinged to the platform or side pieces, and bolted to the legs by screws passing through slots or holes in the braces, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 17th day of April, A. D. 1884.

V JOSEPH FOWLER. Witnesses:

P. A. WHITBEOK, J AY W. 000K. 

